The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-12-10
YOUNG PEOPLE AND THE CHURCH

YOUNG PEOPLE AND THE CHURCH
A movement recently started in our
church, East and West, of the highest
ultimate Importance to our cause, with
far-reaching possibilities of usefulness,
justly demands recognition and further
publication in these columns. We re-
| fer to the movement to bring the young
| people of our church into active and
vital relations with the religious activi-
ties of our parishes, as workers in their
own right and in their own way, in the
development and religious life of the
church.
In several of our prominent churches
notably in the Shawmut Avenue
Church in Boston, and the Church of
the Redeemer in this city-the young
people have associated themselves to-
gether for holding meetings for praise,
prayer and conference, and with excel
lent results. These devotional meet
ings are held on weekday evenings and
on Sunday, just before the evening SER
vice. They are conducted entirely by
the young men and women interested
in the religious life, who feel that such
service is personally uplifting and
beneficial. In some cases they are held
under the flexible organization of the
Y. P. M. A, and in others without any
organization, save that which the Spirit
prompts as manifested in the purpose
to assemble for definite religious pur-
pose once or twice week.
This movement is just in it's infancy
1t will spread and become most service
able agency in the progress of our Zion.
1t is one of the hopeful signs Of our
new revival epoch. 1t testifies to the
increasing righteousness Of our church.
We look upon it as one of the most
gracious and blessed tokens of our re-
cent spiritual progress, that our youth
are engaged in this movement, that
they recognize the need of personal con-
secration, and are willing to take an
active part in these devotional services
Heretofore the attention of our young
people in church relations has been
mainly directed, outside of their work
in the Sunday-school, to the social and
literary enterprises Of the church, and
to the activities in which amusement
and entertainment are the chief ends
sought and accomplished. They have
done good work on these lines, and
will continue to follow them as instru-
mentalities. Young peoples fairs, fes-
rivals, concerts, socials, and clubs, and
parties of various kinds, have been and
will continue to be important agencies
for enlisting the attention of the young
in our church. They have their place
and special usefulness, and under proper
pastoral supervision, are more or less
valuable. But we need to recognize
the fact that the church requires more
than activity in the social relations,
or enterprise in affairs of amusement,
to fill up the measure of its require
ments. 1t demands personal conse-
Grafton and an active interest in the
higher life in all that gather under its
leadership. 1t is this recognition that
is now coming to the front in the move
ment of which we write. Our young
people, under wise pastoral direction,
are beginning to develop along the line
of the spiritual life, and to become
themselves leaders in the movement.
They see that the church can not be
efficiently served, or themselves profited
spiritually, while their attention is en-
tirely absorbed by the devices which
ingenuity is constantly presenting in
the direction, simply, of entertainment.
1t is RELIGION which the church needs,
and it needs it in young and old alike.
We welcome, therefore, every effort
which looks to the development of a
higher standard of spiritual life, and
more attention on the part of our youth
to the paramount interests and con-
Germs of the church.
How shall our young people begin
this work of the devotional meeting |
If in no other way, let them assemble
for a special season of religious song.
Give the hour to hymns of praise and
prayer. After that the prayer and con-
ference meeting may be instituted by
appointing a leader and giving out
topic for consideration. At first it may
require the assistance OF the pastor;
but as soon as possible the entire direc-
ton should be placed in the hands Of
those most Immediately interested. If